OREANDA-NEWS. March 13, 2008. Belgian Electrabel and German RWE Power have qualified for the second round of a tender for 49% stake in Belene Power Company

Such a decision was made by the Board of Directors of the National Electric Company of Bulgaria on Mar 10.

The bids of Czech CEZ, German E.ON and Italian Enel have been declined.
 
Belene Power Company has been set up for managing Belene Nuclear Power Plant.

The general contractor of Belene NPP (two 1000MW reactors) is Russian Atomstroyexport CJSC. This company won the right in a tender in 2006. The general contract was signed on Jan 18 2008. The cost of the project is 3.997bln EUR.
 
Atomstroyexport has already prepared the blueprint of Belene NPP and is finalizing the technical design. Presently, the company is waiting for the permission of the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

Meanwhile, ASE is reconstructing and modernizing the existing infrastructure and is recruiting construction personnel.

Atomstroyexport will carry out the project in partnership with French Areva NP, German Siemens, Czech Skoda Alliance and American Westinghouse. The plant is to be ready by 2014.